Two days after national protest action: again three Cipiers victim of violence in prison Haren (Brussels)

The incident happened on Sunday morning, when a number of prisoners were taken to the walk in the prison of Haren. One prisoner had forgotten his badge. When two employees appealed to him, there was a discussion. « The prisoner then attacked the staff, » confirms Kathleen van de Vijver, spokeswoman for the prison system. The officials had a lot of trouble calming the prisoner.

Three employees would have been hit, and they had to go to the hospital for checking. « There was a fierce fight. The mental impact among staff is also great, » says Van de Vijver.

Last Wednesday another staff member of the Haren prison also had to go to the hospital, After a prisoner attacked two employees out of the blue. The weekend before that a staff member also became a victim.

In addition, four penitentiary officials have also become the target of an attack with a fire bomb in recent months. Strangers visited their cars or their home.

Read too. « This is stated in the policy memorandum of Annelies Verlinden: » Drug lords must pay their own stay in prison « 

Overcrowded prisons

Last Friday the prison staff demonstrated for the cabinet of Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V), to protest against the increasing number of violence incidents in the crowded prisons. Throughout the country the prison staff put down the work for 24 hours.

Justice minister Verlinden promised to raise the number of safety cells for aggressive prisoners. She announced more material to be able to detect mobile phones in prisons, and she proposes to put less information in the name beads of the staff. (cell, CDS)